Shawndra Russell’s first novel was written in 2011 as part of National Novel Writing Month.

NaNoWriMo takes place every November to encourage participants to write a novel in 30 days. Not all novels created during NaNoWriMo get published, but Russell’s has.

Titled “Couple Friends,” it is set in Savannah.

“It’s about a group of 20-somethings who have just graduated from college,” says Russell, who writes the weekly column “Music Matters” for the Savannah Morning News.

“They are all displaced from home. They’re trying to latch onto each other after moving a thousand miles away from home.”

While the work is fiction, there are some similarities between Russell and the main character. “We both got jobs in Savannah,” she says.

“I was a young newlywed at that time, and so is she. The rest is a conglomerate of books I’ve read and movies I’ve seen.”

Last year, while working as a high school English teacher, Russell began writing a screenplay. “For a while, I was tweaking that,” she says.

“Then, when National Novel Writing Month began, I decided to turn the screenplay into a novel,” Russell says. “I decided I don’t want to move to Hollywood and that screenwriting isn’t really for me.

“I thought I had a much better shot at being a novelist than a screenwriter. It really was a lot of fun.”

Although Russell completed her novel in a month, it wasn’t finished.

“I edited it for six months because I couldn’t do it full-time,” she says. “I used Kickstarter to raise funds for a professional editor and it was published in August.”

The book was released first as an ebook. Russell was able to hold the actual book in her hands only recently.

“It was really cool to see the book when it came,” she says. “I thought having an ebook would be enough, but it definitely felt more real to actually see it.”

Since “Couple Friends,” Russell has written two other books.

“One is called ‘Keepsakes,’” she says.

“It’s definitely women’s fiction, about a group of friends. It’s more of a love story than ‘Couple Friends.’

“The third one is ‘Teacheritis,’ and I’m writing it now in November for Novel Writing Month,” Russell says. “It’s going to be about the challenges of teaching and how it is a really tough job.”

Today, Russell is a full-time writer. “I’m working on some eguides on freelance writing, social media and professional activities I do,” she says.

A native of Ohio, Russell has lived in Savannah for seven years. “Savannah is the perfect setting for a novel,” she says.

A book signing for “Couple Friends” will take place Nov. 30. “It’s at The Rail Pub because in the book, that’s the favorite bar of the characters,” Russell says.

“The Rail was one of my Kickstarter backers,” she says. “The book signing will be held 5-7 p.m. during Happy Hour.”

The book, which costs $15, is suitable for ages 21 and up. It will be available at the signing and also can be ordered through www.shawndrarussell.com.

Writing books full-time is Russell’s dream.

“When I was in high school, one of my poems was published,” she says.

“My teachers always told me that I was a good writer. I majored in English and wrote a thesis for my master’s degree, but I never considered writing a real job.

“I thought of it as something I’d always come back to on the side,” Russell says. “Now I’m piecing it together with writing articles, social media and writing books on the side all melded together as a writing career.”

MEET THE AUTHOR

The book signing for local author Shawndra Russell’s book “Couple Friends” will be 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 30 at The Rail Pub, 405 W. Congress St. Books will be available for purchase at $15 each and are suitable for ages 21 and up. For info or orders, visit www.shawndrarussell.com.

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Thanks for your comment Christine, that's so great to hear! What are you working on? I started a Facebook group for Savannah Writers recently, and everyone has been really supportive and encouraging. You should join us!